Breckenridge colorado mining history books

At our free museums you can visit historic buildings and get to know our founders. Mining was and still is an integral part of colorados and our nationss history. Information about the district is available at the summit historical society which conducts walking tours. Explore the award winning official guide to breckenridge, colorado. Mark fiester 1973 stated first edition breckenridge s history from gold booms to skiing and mountain recreation booms. Hollister presents an expansive history and summary of the area and those who came to mine it. See more ideas about ghost towns, colorado and summit county. The country boy mine tour is a great walk through breckenridges mining past. Breckenridge, colorado most endangered places, gold mining. Colorado artifactual where colorados past is presently. I conduct some tours and hold powerpoint presentations on breckenridge history in the summers in breckenridge and nearby frisco.

Breckenridge, colorado 12 free things youve gotta do. During the 1860s as the placers ran out and the civil war raged, breckenridges population began to dwindle. Alpenrose press summit county colorados hiking and history. Bookstore welcome to summit countys online bookstore for history. Swan city held miners through the high points in mining history in 1914 and saw dredging become a truly viable source of income. In breckenridge, helen was employed as a social worker. The pikes peak gold rush brought unprecedented numbers of people into the region and that in turn led to powerful social, economic, and political changes that brought about the creation of colorado territory in 1861. The places i have highlighted here are all places where you dont need to worry about federally registered mining claims or hostile private property owners. He provides detailed specifics to location and quantities of minerals recovered. Join an expert guide and listen to tales of breckenridges past. Larger scale hydraulic mining sustained the industry until the late 1870s when hardrock mining took over.

Founded in 1877 country boy mine is one of the oldest and most famous mines located in summit county. Breckenridge twoday, yearround history and miningfocused. Bookstore welcome to summit countys online bookstore. Central colorado find yourself in colorado springs at pikes peak. I have been investigating mining sites, ghost towns and the like around breckenridge since 1989. It also played a key role in the establishment of the state of colorado explorer zebulon pike heard a report of gold in south park, presentday park county, colorado, in 1807. Today, downtown breckenridge boasts one of colorados largest historical districts with approximately 250 buildings listed in the national register of historic places. Home to the largest historic district in colorado, breckenridges rich and colorful history is full of gold finds and mining, exploration and adventure, brothels.

The town is located at the base of the tenmile range. Also a history of colorado prospecting and plenty of other helpful information to help plan your trip. Breckenridges history began with gold and silver mining, and signs of its rich mining history are all over the town. Breckenridge history, a ski town with a historic past 360. Breckenridge, co mines, mine companies, mine owners and mine information. Today, one of our expert guides will take you back in time to breckenridges early mining days. Breckenridge historic timeline breckenridge s rich and colorful history is full of gold finds and mining, exploration and adventure, brothels, saloons, booms and busts.

Take a trip on our colorado gold rush tour with live actors, and learn more about mining towns in the old days. He is a founding board member of the breckenridge heritage alliance, a past board member of the summit historical society, frequent tour guide, and coauthor of windows to the past, a book on the history of. With themed actors giving you a taste of 1880s life in the gold mines, a foot deep tour into one of colorado s most famous mines, panning for real gold keep what you find and lots of other fun things to do, theres plenty to keep the whole family entertained. Mines, mining and miners denver public library history. Come in to learn how we went from a gold mine frontier town to a white gold destination. Breckenridge history, a ski town with a historic past. The colorado gold rush, also known as the pikes peak gold rush, occurred in the late 1850s. Breckenridge was primarily a placer mining district in its early years. As part of its educational mission, the society sells books written by its members. Currently we are working on a book on swandyke, colorado, another ghost town that was inhabited by hippies in the 1970s. Bookstore welcome to summit countys online bookstore for.

And over the past 150 years, the spirit of the town hasnt shifted much equal parts outcast, visionary, frontier and fine living. For the ski resort above the town, see breckenridge ski resort. See more ideas about colorado, summit county and bicycle storage rack. As part of its educational mission, the society sells books written by its. Jan 03, 2018 the winter of 1898 was one for the very new history books in breckenridge, colorado. Colorado historyblasted beloved breckenridgegold mining. Summit county mining history runs deep after prospectors first struck. Its echo prompted a horde of wouldbe miners to pour over skyscraping mountain. Today, downtown breckenridge boasts one of colorados largest historical.

Breckenridge, colorado official guide to breckenridge. It once snowed for 79 days straight in this colorado town. During the 1860s as the placers ran out and the civil war raged, breckenridge s population began to dwindle. Shop our bookstore and indulge in summit countys colorful history. The town also has many parttime residents, as many people have vacation homes in the area. Mary ellen gilliland is the author of 11 books and more than 200 magazine and newspaper articles. The winter of 1898 was one for the very new history books in breckenridge, colorado. Breckenridge is a home rule municipality that is the county seat and the most populous municipality of summit county, colorado, united states. In the late 1930s, breckenridge was just a small mountain mining town and not the big ski town it is today.

The book was set in the colorado rockies, which was known for its rough terrain. This article is about the town of breckenridge, colorado. Finally, lets toast louis lamour, who wrote over 100 novels and 200 short stories. History colorado offers engaging professional development opportunities throughout the year that blend content and pedagogy and provide classroomready resources. By 1859 the pikes peak gold rush was on, and discovery of gold in the breckenridge area brought miners and fortune seekers to the blue river diggings.

Breckenridge becomes colorados first major resort to allow snowboarding. The year was 1859, two years before colorado became a territory and. Colorado mining history in 1849 and 1850, several parties of gold seekers bound for the california gold rush panned small amounts of gold from various streams in the south platte river valley at the foot of the rocky mountains in then western kansas territory, now northeast colorado. During the late 19th century, gold fever roared through colorado like wildfire, and mining camps and towns were literally born overnight. Today, downtown breckenridge boasts one of colorado s largest historical districts with approximately 250 buildings listed in the national register of historic places. Many of those travelling west to california would have had their first experiences in the mines of colorado.

Breckenridge gold mine tours breckenridge, colorado. The gold mining town, as it was back then, was home to several businesses including barber shops, watch. Placer mining, the process of mining for gold in the stream and river beds, was the. So many promising mining towns are just a footnote in history today. Breckenridge becomes colorado s first major resort to allow snowboarding. Hague is a retired mining engineer whose fascination with history accelerated over twenty years ago when he first came to breckenridge. Centuryold gold dredge still tells the story of breckenridges mining past march 19, 2015 at 5. Founded in 1859 by a small group of prospectors, the towns gold rush brought droves of settlers seeking their fortunes.

Detailed histories of each site make this book a must for successful exploring. Once home to gold mining, breckenridges history dates back to the 1850s. Public dig sites across colorado finding gold in colorado. I have coauthored three books on breckenridge mining history in the past three years. Helen then published the willow bender in 1950, which dealt with family and mining strikes in colorado. Mark fiester 1973 stated first edition breckenridges history from gold booms to skiing and mountain recreation booms measures 11 34 x 8 34 348 pages. Indulge in a classy dinner at the hearthstone restaurant in breckenridge. Keep up with us go ahead and subscribe to receive 12 emails per month. We will also work with schools and districts to create custom professional development opportunities that combine expert speakers, resource packets and museum admission. Connect with breckenridge, colorado history part 1. Native gold occurs in the breckenridge district both in veins and placers.

Located in the current and historic mining town of idaho springs, the phoenix gold mine is a great stop whether you are headed out of breckenridge or into town from the front range, as it is conveniently placed right along i70. He says its a testament to a time in colorados history where the ends justified. Farncomb hill, french gulch, breckenridge mining district, summit co. Set at the narrow head of a valley at 7,792 feet and surrounded on three sides with,000 foot snowcapped peaks ouray has been eloquently nicknamed the switzerland of. The historic district is about 12 square blocks and there are 171 buildings with points of historic interest. Gulches, hydraulic mining in and around breckenridge, colorado. Get local advice on events and activities, search for lodging, book vacation packages and so much more. Timeline of breckenridge history breckenridge, colorado. While cripple creek, colorado is not a ghost town, it was one of the most important mining camps in colorado.

City of influence by brian levine, a quick history. With that said, there are a handful of interesting, free museums. Public dig sites across colorado there are a surprising number of places in colorado where you can dig for free or for a token fee. Southwest ouray has been a special destination of world travelers for more than 100 years. Farncomb hill, french gulch, breckenridge mining district. Breckenridges rich and colorful history is full of gold finds and mining, exploration and adventure, brothels, saloons, booms and busts. The hearthstone was the home of christ and ida kaiser. This ones not located in breckenridge, but hard to not mention when talking about colorado s mining history. Even includes a list of other books you might also enjoy. This is schoppes second book on colorado railroad history, and. With breckenridges 150th anniversary in 2009, it is important to reflect on the history, heritage and especially the characters that made this. The lomax mine, located near downtown breckenridge, was an active hydraulic placer mining operation in the 1860s. This small intimate community is nestled in some of the most rugged and towering peaks of the rockies.

Lamour came to colorado in 1926 and found a job in mining for awhile. In the mountains, the books are calling and we must read. Alpenrose press summit county colorados hiking and. Voted the best thing we did in colorado country boy mine is so much more than breckenridge s only real gold mine tour. Along with a fun and historical mine tour in breckenridge s only real open mine, you can also experience life as it was in the late 1800s. The town of breckenridge, colorado was founded in 1859 by a small group of gold prospectors and general george e. Mining was far and away the most significant industry in nineteenth and early twentiethcentury colorado and has remained important since that time. Mar 19, 2015 centuryold gold dredge still tells the story of breckenridges mining past. Step inside a miners cabin, see and feel original hydraulic mining equipment and learn to pan for gold. Indexes of mining accidents occurring in colorado from 1884 to 1981. The history of breckernidge, co breckenridge heritage alliance. Early in its 100year history, the county boy mine was known for gold and silver production and later earned national fame by producing large amounts of highgrade. For an index of all the places discussed in the book, go here.

Hydraulic mining in and around breckenridge, colorado. Gold mining in colorado, a state of the united states, has been an industry since 1858. Breckenridge, ranked by ski magazine as the eighth best ski resort in the united states in 20102011, is a worldclass colorado ski destination featuring four mountains on 2,358 acres of terrain. Way before breckenridge was a ski resort, it was a town. Take a tour, learn about the history of this great little town. Includes first and last name, county, name of mine, date of accident, and type of accident.

The town population was 4,540 at the 2010 united states census. Helen was very interested in mining laws and spent time researching her novels by. Seeking their fortunes, thousands of men arrived in the. From gold mines to bawdy saloons, victorian ladies to lingering spirits we have a tour for everyone. It was spencer who proposed the name breckinridge, after the vice president at the time, in hopes of getting a post office. For a map of colorado showing the areas covered by each chapter, go here. We have five historic trains to transport you back to the days of cowboys and gold mining. The principal locality for vein gold is farncomb hill, whence have come the innumerable specimens of breckenridge gold.

A seasoned researcher and punchy writer, shes one of summit county, colorados most renowned historians, with five books on the 1800s mining mecca. Jun 04, 2014 indexes of mining accidents occurring in colorado from 1884 to 1981. Breckenridge history, a ski town with a historic past book breck. She looked at job placements and welfare payments for the department of public welfare in summit county, colorado. Breckenridge is the largest historic district in colorado. Endless trails allow you to enjoy the abundant sunshine and spectacular scenery. The pikes peak gold rush brought unprecedented numbers of people into the region and that in turn led to powerful social, economic, and political changes that brought about the creation of colorado territory in 1861, culminating in the. A gold rush history of summit county, colorado, 25th anniversary edition. Centuryold gold dredge still tells the story of breckenridge.